There’s a new kid on the block at the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce, and she is on fire as the Chamber Program Coordinator. Starting just a month ago, Alex Heidinger is a bright, creative, and enthusiastic new edition to the 601 Team. Although she and her new husband live in Parkston, they both love working in Mitchell.
Alex’s husband Jordan is the Finance Manager at Iverson Auto Group and has been with them for ten years. That’s impressive given the millennial characteristic of changing jobs every few years. Iverson’s must be one terrific place to work!
Not only do they work in Mitchell, but they also spend a great deal of their leisure time here. They enjoy attending live music concerts and frequenting our Logan Luxury Theatre to see the latest movie releases. Eating out and watching football at local sports bars is also a favorite. “Jordan,” Alex says, “Is big into his fantasy football league.”
The Heidingers don’t have any children yet but look forward to raising a family in Mitchell. For now, “We enjoy taking our dog [Luna] and nieces and nephews on the hiking trails around the lake, enjoy lunch and drink on a restaurant patio, swimming, going to baseball games, and fishing at the lake.” Moving to Mitchell is most likely in their future. They say they wish Mitchell “would get more housing so they could live here!”
Alex quips, “The Corn Palace stands out in my memories because my mom worked at the City Hall office when I was a kid, and we used to run around the Corn Palace a lot when visiting her work or attending sporting or other events.” Mitchell is also unique to the Heidingers because, in September of 2021, they held their wedding ceremony at Hitchcock Park and reception at the Mason Temple.
Something unique about the Heidingers is that Alex’s sister is married to Jordan’s brother. “It is really fun when we get together.”
Alex was born outside of the United States, in Agana, Guam, on the U.S. Naval base where her dad was stationed. Her mother also has a military background serving as a Marine.
“I don’t remember much of the experience, “Alex stated, “I was nearly three when we left Guam and moved to Chicago.” From her parents, she heard stories of being a beach baby, the monsoons they experienced, and “the geckos that used to climb all over the walls of the house.” When Alex’s parents divorced, her mother and siblings moved to South Dakota, living in Wagner, Parkston, Ethan, and Parkston again.
Parkston is where Jordan and Alex met. Alex said, “We technically met for the first time at a high school prom, even though we had different dates.” They attended South Dakota State University, but not as a couple. Alex earned a sociology degree with a minor in marketing. Jordan joined the workforce before graduating, living in Sioux Falls and then Mitchell before moving back to Parkston.
Alex added, “I didn’t think I ever thought I would settle down near my hometown, whereas my husband is a small-town guy at heart.” The Heidingers want to live in a community close to family, and that’s why “we choose to live here.” “Mitchell to us is a close-knit community filled with a lot of family-focused people.”
